U.S. Bishops Establish New Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism

Bishop George V. Murry,
SJ of Youngstown, Ohio has been named Chair of the New Committee

Included statement
from Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo on the establishment of the Committee

WASHINGTON—The
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops today announced the establishment
of an Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism. Initiated by Cardinal Daniel N.
DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the USCCB, the committee will focus
on addressing the sin of racism in our society, and even in our Church, and the
urgent need to come together as a society to find solutions.

"Recent
events have exposed the extent to which the sin of racism continues to afflict
our nation. The establishment of this new ad hoc committee will be wholly
dedicated to engaging the Church and our society to work together in unity to
challenge the sin of racism, to listen to persons who are suffering under this
sin, and to come together in the love of Christ to know one another as brothers
and sisters," says Cardinal DiNardo.

Bishop
George V. Murry, SJ of Youngstown, Ohio has been appointed by Cardinal DiNardo
as Chairman of the committee. The membership of the committee will be
finalized in the coming days and its mandate will be confirmed at the first
meeting, expected very shortly.

"I
look forward to working with my brother bishops as well as communities across
the United States to listen to the needs of individuals who have suffered under
the sin of racism and together find solutions to this epidemic of hate that has
plagued our nation for far too long," says Bishop Murry. "Through Jesus'
example of love and mercy, we are called to be a better people than what we
have witnessed over the past weeks and months as a nation. Through
listening, prayer and meaningful collaboration, I'm hopeful we can find lasting
solutions and common ground where racism will no longer find a place in our
hearts or in our society."

The
new ad hoc committee has been formed upon the unanimous recommendation of the
U.S. Bishops Conference Executive Committee and in consultation with members of
the USCCB's Committee on Priorities and Plans. The establishment of the
committee will also welcome and support the implementation of the pastoral
letter on racism anticipated for release in 2018. The formation of the ad
hoc committee also follows the conclusion of the work of the Peace in Our
Communities Task Force. The Task Force was formed in July 2016 by then USCCB
President, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, in response to racially-related
shootings in Baton Rouge, Minneapolis and Dallas.

Almost
40 years ago, the Bishops of the United States wrote a Pastoral Letter on
Racism. Among the many things, they discussed was the fact that "Racism
is a sin: a sin that divides the human family, blots out the image of God among
specific members of that family, and violates the fundamental human dignity of
those called to be children of the same Father."

WASHINGTON,
August 23, 2017– Following is a statement from Cardinal DiNardo, President of
the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Archbishop of
Galveston-Houston, upon the establishment of the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee Against
Racism

In
His Image

As
Sacred Scripture teaches, each one of us is made in the image and likeness of
God (Gen. 1:26-27). The mission of the Church is to teach and to witness to the
intrinsic dignity of the human person. Marches by hate groups such as the KKK
and Neo-Nazis are outrageous to the sensible mind and directly challenge the
dignity of human life. It is time for us to recommit ourselves to eradicating
racism.

Last
week, after the evil events in Charlottesville, I convened various
consultations with bodies of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Based on that consultation, I am today announcing the establishment of an Ad
Hoc Committee Against Racism. I am grateful to Bishop George V. Murry, SJ of
Youngstown for accepting the chairmanship of this Ad Hoc Committee. Bishop Murry will speak more on the mandate
of the Committee at the press event later today.

Prejudice
can lurk unnoticed in the soul. Without
prayerful reflection, it can feed on the fear of what is different. It can grow into overt racism. But self-reflection is not enough. It must lead to action. May the work of the
USCCB serve as a call to conversion for those hiding behind white hoods and
Nazi symbols. The vile chants of
violence against African Americans and other people of color, the Jewish
people, immigrants, and others offend our faith, but unite our resolve. Let us
not allow the forces of hate to deny the intrinsic dignity of every human
person. Let the nation and world see the
one body of Christ move to the defense of our sisters and brothers who are
threatened.

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